The Apostolic Nunciature sent a letter to the governor of Georgia, Sonny Perdue, on behalf of Pope Benedict, asking that Davis be granted clemency, reported The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The letter arrived Monday.

"In the name of Pope Benedict XVI, I am respectfully asking you to commute Troy's sentence to life in prison without parole," wrote Msgr. Martin Krebs of the Apostolic Nunciature.

The letter says Davis' pending execution is "disturbing" since many witnesses have come forward to say their testimony implicating him was false.

Davis’ death sentence for the 1989 murder of a Savannah police officer was put on hold this week, 24 hours before it was scheduled.